New Older Driver Data Trends in Upward Direction

WASHINGTON--May 8, 2014: According to a new
report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, older Americans are
extending their time behind the wheel compared to previous generations. For
example, 84 percent of Americans 65 and older held a driver's license in
2010 compared to barely half in the early 1970s. Today, one in six drivers
on U.S. roads are ages 65 and older and this new research shows an
increased automobility of older drivers with travel patterns indicating
about a 20 percent increase in trips and a 33 increase in miles travelled
between 1990 and 2009.

While upward trends indicate greater mobility for the silver tsunami,
the Understanding Older Drivers: An Examination of Medical Conditions,
Medication Use and Travel Behaviors report reveals that 90 percent of older
drivers also use prescription medications with two-thirds taking multiple
medications. Previous Foundation research has shown that combinations of
medications, both prescription and over- the-counter, can result in an
impairment in safe driving ability.

"This level of medication use does raise concerns, yet evidence
indicates seniors are fairly cautious," said AAA Foundation President and
CEO Peter Kissinger. "In fact, these findings show that older drivers using
medications are more likely to regulate their driving – reducing
daily travel, avoiding driving at night or driving fewer days per
week."

The report also reveals gender differences when it comes to
medication-use behind the wheel. Older women that use medications are more
likely to regulate their driving compared to men and, even without a
medical condition, female drivers drive less than their male counterparts
with a medical condition.

Additional key highlights from the report include:

25 percent of men and 18 percent of women remain in the workforce after
age 65, resulting in more than double the work-related commutes for drivers
65 and older compared to 20 years ago. 68 percent drivers age 85 or older
report driving five or more days per week. Three-quarters of drivers ages
65 and older with a medical condition report reduced daily driving.
Self-regulatory behavior, among those taking multiple medications or having
a medical condition, declines with increasing income. Female drivers ages
65-69 with an annual income under $13,000 were 62 percent more likely to
restrict nighttime driving than women with incomes over $70,000.

Knowing that medication use is very high among senior drivers, the AAA
Foundation and AAA developed confidential, educational tools such as
Roadwise Rx to help seniors and their families understand common
side-effects of prescription and over-the-counter medications, herbal
supplements and foods.

"AAA's Roadwise Rx is an online tool that generates personalized
feedback about how these interactions between prescription and
over-the-counter medicines and herbal supplements can impact safety behind
the wheel," said AAA's Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy, Jake Nelson.
"Drivers are encouraged to discuss the confidential results with their
doctor or pharmacist to learn how to mitigate possible crash risks." To
access all the free resources AAA offers to senior drivers, visit
SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

The AAA Foundation study primarily analyzed the most recent data from
two national databases - the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS)
and the 2011 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

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